Steele to court 'tea party' leaders

The Washington Post ^ | February 15, 2010 | Philip Rucker

[mdittmar]

About 50 leaders of the grass-roots "tea party" movement will meet in Washington on Tuesday with Republican Party Chairman Michael S. Steele and other top party operatives to discuss campaign strategies and conservative principles.

The afternoon meeting on Capitol Hill will mark the first time a broad coalition of tea party organizers -- who have railed against both the Democratic and the Republican establishments -- will sit down with GOP leaders. Top Republican leaders have been openly courting tea party organizers, looking to marshal grass-roots energy heading into November's midterm elections.

Karin Hoffman, founder of DC Works For Us, a South Florida tea party group, said she initiated the meeting by approaching Steele last month and asking him to sit down with a range of tea party organizers. She said her goal is to open a civil dialogue with the GOP leadership, but she dismissed any suggestion that tea party groups would merge with the Republican Party.

"From the get-go, the grass-roots movement emerged from people desiring to be heard and not feeling like their voices are being heard in Washington," Hoffman said in an interview. "This is the beginning of a formal discussion with the political establishment."

[mdittmar]

Leaders,what leaders?

[BornToBeAmerican]

Yeah, what leaders?

Oh, and it better be televised on FOX

[Marty62]

Maybe it should read representatives of the Tea Party.
Is Kristinn going?
If not..... HUMMMMMMMM.

[Drango]

leaders?

[Eyes Unclouded]

Brace yourself for the ramp up of campaign season. I predict some sort of contract with America which they will all smile and sign in public and think it will regain the trust of the base.

[TexasCajun]

I thought Jim was the TEA Party Leader?

Jim, you in Washington today?

[cripplecreek]

I wasn’t invited.

[wolfpat]

I agree. If Kristinn or Jim Robinson ain’t there representing FReepers, it ain’t a valid meeting.

[kidd]

I don’t recognize any TEA party “leaders”

Nevertheless, if these 50 TEA party supporters can get Steele to resign, I will call it a productive meeting.

[Roccus]

Mikey goes acourtin’......but who?

[pissant]

Steele needs to go on a one way trip to Tasmania

[digger48]

Steele to court 'tea party' leaders

If you do...leave your deck of race cards in your panty drawer at the hotel, Michael.

[Trust but Verify]

Stay away from the tea party people, Steele. We are doing the work you and others refused to do!

[mdittmar]

Brace yourself for the ramp up of campaign season. I predict some sort of contract with America which they will all smile and sign in public and think it will regain the trust of the base.

Hey steele,"ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US"

[Roccus]

Whaddya got against Tasmania?

[Cobra64]

.

.

[pyx]

Karin Hoffman, founder of DC Works For Us, a South Florida tea party group, said she initiated the meeting by approaching Steele last month and asking him to sit down with a range of tea party organizers. She said her goal is to open a civil dialogue with the GOP leadership, but she dismissed any suggestion that tea party groups would merge with the Republican Party.

This the first I have heard of this. I suspect its the first time many other Tea Party supporters have also heard about it. Does Karin Hoffman consider herself a "LEADER" of the Tea Party movement ? If so, did she APPOINT herself or is this another example of the LEFT's strategy of divide and conquer ?

[pissant]

LOL. Sorry to the Tasmanians

[Slyfox]

Steele, House Republican leader John Boehner (Ohio) and other party leaders have said recently that winning over tea party activists is critical to the GOP's hopes of winning back congressional majorities in November. But Republican leaders have been careful not to try to take over the tea party movement.

The party leaders should listen to ALL grassroot party activists, including the people who make up the bulk of the party who are not unlike the teapartiers. In fact, I know a number of people who attend district and state Republican conventions who also attend the tea parties.

The RINOs and the Country Club types think we all are stupid idiots because we happen to think that that small portion of one of our most important founding documents mentioning the "right to life" actually means something.

[kempster]

If I know Steele he will probably start courting some RINO’s and calling them “leaders”.